PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Jeff Coston of Blaine, Wash., took a one-stroke lead in the 18th Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship with 18 holes to play at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., after firing a 7-under-par 65 Saturday for the second consecutive day for a three-day total of 15-under 201. Coston's 54-hole total breaks the previous record of 205, which was set by Ed Sabo of Tequesta, Fla., who then went on to capture the Championship title.
The third round produced much excitement, with the leader board constantly changing. Second-round leader Reed Hughes of Senatobia, Miss., started off strong in the morning with three birdies to take the early lead, with the attempt to distance himself from the rest of the field.
Coston and Chris Starkjohann of Encinitas, Calif., who began the round two and one back of Hughes, quickly began making up ground, and went head to head throughout the back nine of the Ryder Course. Coston finally took the outright lead from Starkjohann on the final hole by sinking a 10-foot putt for birdie.
"I didn't look at the leader board all day so I was not aware that the final putt would give me the lead," said Coston, who tied for 53rd place in the 2005 Championship. "Sixty-five is a good number to get stuck on, but golf is four laps around the track and they don't pay for three laps, so there is still a lot of golf left to be played. My mental [thinking] this tournament has been to be light-hearted and to have some fun while trying to be patient, which seems to be working thus far."
Starkjohann carded a 5-under 67 Saturday, which matches his first-round score, to remain just one stroke back from Coston. His round consisted of just one bogey, on the par-5 No. 4, from which he then rebounded with birdies on Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 13 to finish his round.
"My one mistake today was on No. 4, when I hit the ball into the water, which resulted in my only bogey of the day," said Starkjohann, a PGA Teaching Professional at Hodges Golf Center in Escondido, Calif. "It was a little disappointing today because I missed a few short putts down the stretch, including six-footers on Nos. 14, 16, and 17. I am still in good position going into the final round and am pleased with my putting this far by only having 28 putts again today."
John Mazza of Beaver Falls, Pa., recorded his third consecutive sub-par round with a 3-under 69 for a 12-under 204, to hold sole position of third place entering the final round. On the 415-yard 18th hole, Mazza sank a birdie putt to jump ahead of Hughes. Hughes sat atop the leader board going into the back nine, but dropped to fourth place after recording bogeys on Nos. 10, 16, and 17 and entered the clubhouse with an even-par 72.
Joining Hughes in a tie for fourth place are Bill Britton of Tinton Falls, N.J., Jerry Impellittiere of Palm City, Fla., and Mike Lawrence of Easley, S.C. The Ryder Course played an average of 71.58 during the third round.
Callaway Golf is in its fifth year as the title sponsor of the Senior PGA Professional National Championship and Buick is serving as the supporting sponsor. The top 35 finishers will earn a berth in the 2007 Senior PGA Championship, May 22-27, at Kiawah Island (S.C.) Golf Resort. The winner of the Callaway Golf PGA Senior Club Professional Championship will have his name inscribed on the Leo F. Fraser Trophy and will receive a first-place check for $20,000 out a total purse of $285,000.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.
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